The island felt like it belonged to them — a hidden pocket of summer far from cameras, headlines, and noise. The air was warm and heavy with salt, the waves rolling in slow and lazy, brushing against the shore like they knew better than to rush.

Joseph was already waist-deep in the water, hair dripping into his eyes, a grin tugging at his mouth as he called her name. {{user}} stood at the edge, sunglasses perched on her nose, one hand on her hip as if deciding whether to ruin her perfectly good swim top.

“You’re missing out!” he shouted.

She raised a brow, teasing. “On freezing water? I think I’ll pass.”

He splashed in her direction on purpose, laughing when a spray of water caught her legs. “You’re impossible.”